Regional Integration Processes Research Articles

The Beijing Nonlocal Vehicle Policy Choice under B.T.H. Collaborative Development

This paper investigated the number and spatial distribution of Beijing nonlocal vehicle, combed the development of nonlocal vehicle management policy. Found that the economic gap between Beijing and the surrounding cities has been widening in the past 10 years, which has led to the rapid growth of nonlocal vehicle in the city. Under the condition of B.T.H collaborative development, the existing nonlocal vehicle management policy will impede the economic development of B.T.H region. Travel demand management policies should consider the features of regional integration process, so as to form an effective policy arrangement.

A governança facilitada no Mercosul: transferência de políticas e integração nas áreas de educação, migração e saúde

Artigo O artigo investiga o papel das instituições do Mercosul no processo de transferência de políticas entre os Estados--membros em três áreas específicas: educação, saúde e migração. O argumento principal é que essas instituições tornaram-se espaços formadores de políticas públicas, atuando como facilitadoras da transferência de políticas nos três casos empíricos examinados. O artigo pretende contribuir para o desenvolvimento de estudos empíricos de transferência de políticas públicas nos processos de integração regional. Os blocos regionais criam espaços de articulação de ideias e trocas de experiências entre os gestores de políticas públicas. A metodologia envolveu análise de documentos oficiais do bloco e entrevistas. Apesar do seu caráter intergovernamental e da sua baixa institucionalização, o Mercosul desempenhou funções importantes no processo de formulação de políticas públicas nacionais nas três áreas selecionadas na pesquisa.

The consequences of Brexit for Africa: The case of the East African Community

How will Brexit impact on Africa? This paper looks at the available empirical evidence and carries out a Computable General Equilibrium simulation, focusing particularly on the prospects for the East African Community (EAC). The paper makes three main points. First, while the direct impacts through investment, trade and remittances are likely to be relatively small, African countries may benefit from the creation of new export opportunities. However, these are mainly in resource-intensive sectors that are not considered a priority for the development agendas of most African countries. Second, indirect consequences, through Brexit's impact on the global economy, its influence on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union, or a potential reduction in UK development cooperation, are likely to be equally important over the longer run. Finally, one overlooked consequence of Brexit for Africa is that it could undermine confidence in ‘deep’ regional integration processes like the EAC. The paper concludes that the correct response at such a time is not to falter but to redouble efforts towards regional integration through the implementation of the recently-signed African Continental Free Trade Area, while learning the pertinent lessons from Europe.

ECONOMIC POLICY IMPACT ON TRADE: AN ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS)

ABSTRACT In this age of globalization and multilateralism, countries are increasingly designing strategies to strengthen their negotiation power. Recently, African countries have taken steps to close their economic gaps and become more competitive worldwide through regional grouping such as The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). However, the intergovernmental approach of the Community's current institutions hinders its regional integration process. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that we consider improving the framework to achieve regional integration objectives. This study provides a critical analysis and examines whether regional integration is the best strategy to achieve objectives of the ECOWAS. It also investigates whether the introduction of a common external tariff changes intra-ECOWAS trade flows. Furthermore, this study examines whether institutions are bearing on the outcome of the regional integration process, especially in respect of their impact on trade flows. The matrix trade flows technique assesses the trade direction among ECOWAS countries. The commodity composition analysis shows the commodities traded regionally and allows an assessment of the production structure of ECOWAS. The Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) method is used to analyze the effects of regional integration and institutions on trade flows. This study finds that trade openness within the region increases the Community trade relations. However, the implementation of the CET reduces intra-regional trade flows. The results reveal that regional integration is a significant factor in strengthening negotiating power. The study also reveals that institutions significantly contribute to the achievement of regional integration objectives as well as to improving trade flows. Keywords Economic policy, impact, ECOWAS

Czy Porozumienie Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) może stać się przełomowe w procesie integracji regionalnej na kontynencie afrykańskim?

Zawarte w 2015 roku trójstronne porozumienie o wolnym handlu Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) między trzema regionalnymi porozumieniami handlowymi w Afryce (COMESA, SADC, EAC) jest pierwszym krokiem w kierunku utworzenia kontynentalnej, afrykańskiej strefy wolnego handlu Continental Free Trade Area (CAFTA), planowanej na 2017 rok. Celem artykułu jest próba oceny znaczenia zawartego porozumienia TFTA dla procesu regionalnej integracji w Afryce. W artykule zastosowano metodę analityczno‑opisową z wykorzystaniem krajowych i zagranicznych źródeł literaturowych oraz danych statystycznych Konferencji Narodów Zjednoczonych ds. Handlu i Rozwoju (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development – UNCTAD). Przeprowadzone zostały również badania empiryczne z wykorzystaniem wskaźnika wewnętrznej orientacji handlu (RTII). Dokonana analiza prowadzi do wniosku, że zarówno szeroki zakres przedmiotowy, jak i podmiotowy porozumienia Tripartite wskazuje, że może być ono ważnym krokiem w kierunku nowej strategii rozwoju integracji regionalnej w Afryce. Natomiast wyniki badań własnych sugerują, że nie zmieni się pozycja porozumienia w handlu światowym.

Las políticas de la integración regional latinoamericana. Aprendizajes a partir del caso de la Estrategia Centroamericana de Desarrollo Rural Territorial

The Central American Integration System (SICA) has defined, during the recent years, a positive integration agenda through the generation of public goods and the implementation of regional policy actions in different areas. This fact shows that this is one of the most dynamic Latin American regional integration projects. However, there are still unanswered questions about its effectiveness and impacts on the region. This paper analyzes the implementation of the Central American Strategy for Rural Territorial Development (ECADERT) as an instrument of the regional integration process. The results show the limitations to ECADERT’s effective implementation due to deficiencies found in its mechanisms of transfer, diffusion and convergence. Nevertheless, the Strategy shows institutional advances that suggest the feasibility of this type of process in the SICA framework.

Study on New Type of Urbanization in Sichuan-Shaanxi Old Revolutionary Base Area

Sichuan-Shaanxi Old Revolutionary Base Area has characteristics of “old districts, mountainous areas, border areas, and ethnic regions”. Constrained by many factors such as geographical environment, resources, funds, technology, talents, etc., its economic and social development is seriously affected. Many problems still exist including low-level and low-quality urbanization development, unreasonable structure of the urban system, low-level inclusive development, severe environment damage and lack of driving forces for further development. This paper first thoroughly analyzes the problems and development conditions for the urbanization of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Old Revolutionary Base Area and then puts forward the following countermeasures and suggestions to establish a unified coordination and cooperation platform, to speed up the process of regional integration, to improve planning and build a rational urbanization system, to deepen reforms and promote system innovation, to take measures to resolve capital shortages.

Таиланд как региональный актор в Юго-Восточной Азии: опыт «мягкого» регионализма

The foreign policy of Thailand and its role in regional integration processes in Southeast Asia are considered. Materials are the texts of the official websites of the government of Thailand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Association of South-East Asia, its research centres, Embassy of Thailand in South-East Asia in foreign policy of Thailand relative to other countries (e.g., Singapore, Australia, Japan, Russia, etc.). It is shown that Thailand focuses foreign policy primarily on neighbouring countries, such as Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Malaysia. It is noted that since 2001, each Thailand government has pursued a foreign policy aimed at developing relations and cooperation with neighbouring countries. It is indicated that Thailand implements its national interests through integration processes. It is emphasized that it is trying to take a leadership position in the South-East Asia region through the creation of new agreements and regional projects that are implemented in a “soft” form, especially in its subregion. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the role of Thailand in Southeast Asia and the peculiarities of soft regionalism in the region.

The Survival of the Sunset Textile Industry Involving Bilateral Free-Trade Agreements: Empirical Evidences of Taiwan

This study attempts to investigate how bilateral free-trade agreements (FTA) affect competitiveness within Taiwanese textile industry with comparison to other Asian Tiger countries (Hong Kong and South Korea) by utilizing export market share (EMS) and revealed comparative advantage (RCA). The applied regression model is estimated in order to identify which factors would affect the international competitiveness. The results have demonstrated that the gradually released quota by multi-fiber agreement (MFA) has a negative effect on the promotion of international competitiveness. On the other hand, it is estimated that the signing of bilateral FTAs such as economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) might substantially help Taiwanese textile industry?s international competitiveness. In hope to better understand the relationships between interconnected regional and global integration processes emerging from today?s challenging multilateral trading structure within Asia-Pacific regions.

World economic development within domination of regional states

The article deals with the world economic development within the domination of regional states that continue to play an important role, despite the regional integration processes affect and change world ecocnomy. Today, according to the World Bank data, such states are the United States of America, China, Japan, Germany, Great Britain, France, India, Italy, Brazil, Canada. Today these regional states have the largest economies in the world. The article analyzes the main indicators of the states that characterize their position in the world economy in 2016. The study determines the share of the macrogeographic regions, which includes the largest regional states in the world economy. The forecast is made on the basis of current trends in the global economy, 2016-2017 and the World Bank data on the world economy development by 2030. The regional states are identified as the largest economies in the world by that time.

Dimensão social do MERCOSUL: enfoque na realidade paraguaia por meio do Fundo de Convergência Estrutural do MERCOSUL

O MERCOSUL teve início em 1991 como uma estratégia política para elevar o comércio entre os países da região e ganhar espaço no cenário internacional. O processo de integração regional registrou avanços para além dos aspectos econômicos e passou a incluir debate e deliberações na área social. A partir de 2000 identifica-se o estabelecimento de uma agenda social para o MERCOSUL e a criação de mecanismos institucionais voltados para sua operacionalização. A agenda social do MERCOSUL pode ser compreendida como um conjunto de ações, programas e instituições que se constituem no âmbito da integração regional com o objetivo de redução das assimetrias e das desigualdades sociais nos países do bloco. Entre as medidas adotadas pelo Conselho do Mercado Comum – CMC, destacamos a criação do Fundo de Convergência Estrutural do MERCOSUL - FOCEM. A pesquisa tem como objetivo verificar como está o andamento do FOCEM e destacar suas ações na realidade do Paraguai. Como objetivo geral buscamos descrever a instituição do FOCEM e seu processo de operacionalização. O estudo é de natureza descritiva e exploratória, com coleta de dados por meio da pesquisa bibliográfica, documental e entrevistas semiestruturadas. O trabalho apresenta uma análise do funcionamento do FOCEM no contexto da integração regional, apresentando os limites e possibilidades dessa instituição. O estudo revela o esforço do FOCEM em criar ações estratégicas com vista a garantir coesão social e reduzir assimetrias entre os Estados Partes, mas ainda apresenta-se com fatores reduzidos de institucionalidade e de apoio político.

Monitoring regional market-building in Africa: a critical perspective

PurposeAfrican regional integration and market-building processes have not lived up to their expectations in terms of the development of intra-regional international business and the contribution to reaching broader socioeconomic development goals. The purpose of this paper is to critically reflect on the indicator-based monitoring tools that have been designed and used to assess these processes.Design/methodology/approachThe assessment is based on a comparative analysis of all relevant cases for which information is publicly available. Complementary expert opinion has also been taken into account.FindingsThis study finds that there is room for improvement of the existing monitoring systems, both with respect to their governance and technical aspects, so that they can have more impact on the respective integration processes and can better guide the business strategies.Originality/valueThis is the first systematic comparative assessment of indicator-based monitoring systems for African regional integration.

O direito à educação de qualidade no Mercosul

objective of the research is to analyze the right to education based on indicators of educational quality in the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela). This is one of the measured results of the Doctoral Thesis titled The Right to Education in Mercosur member countries: a comparative study. In order to facilitate the achievement of the proposed objective, a qualitative bibliographical and documentary research was carried out. documentary source consisted of the reports of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), analyzing the public expenditure on education and the quality index of education of the members of the bloc. In addition, the discussion was based on the comparison and comparison of the data of the educational indicators of the Mercosur member states with the literature of the area. In spite of the fact that the countries of the bloc have in the last decades shown the expansion of investments and also the coverage of vacancies for basic education, this growth was not linked to quality, with the exception of Argentina and Uruguay, which are the countries with the educational indicators and are among the best placed, if we compare the other Latin American countries as well. This framework presents itself as an obstacle not only to the social, political and economic development of the countries, but also to the consolidation of an effective process of regional integration within Mercosur.

Regional knowledge economies and global innovation networks – the case of Southeast Asia

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the prospects of a Southeast Asian knowledge economy in light of regional integration processes and the participation of Southeast Asia in global innovation networks.Design/methodology/approachThe evidence base is a combination of quantitative data on R&D investments, patent applications and publications, with qualitative data from 40 semi-structured expert interviews conducted with innovation experts, research managers and policymakers in six ASEAN Member States.FindingsDespite economic growth and increases in R&D inputs and outputs in individual ASEAN Member States, innovation policy at regional ASEAN level remains weak. In addition, the economic integration of the ASEAN Economic Community is progressing slowly. In this environment, evidence is presented for a certain level of regional integration when it comes to the exploitation of knowledge produced within and outside of ASEAN. While a regional market for knowledge exploitation is conceivable, this is not accompanied by the regional integration of knowledge production.Practical implicationsThe main practical implication of this argument is the need for ASEAN policymakers to appreciate the disconnection between regional knowledge production and exploitation. This paper offers conceptual tools to engage in ASEAN-level policy discussions on this issue that can help facilitate the best possible regional outcome.Originality/valueDespite several studies on the ASEAN Economic Community process, there has been no contribution so far that combines a discussion of the economic integration process with a look at the regional knowledge economy and innovation systems. This perspective does not only contribute to innovation systems literature, but also entails important policy lessons.

Los desafíos de América Latina para proyectarse como actor regional en el ámbito de la seguridad internacional

En este trabajo se contempla la posibilidad de América Latina para proyectarse como actor regional en el ámbito de la seguridad internacional. Para alcanzar este objetivo, desde una metodología cualitativa, se han contemplado diferentes referencias que se entienden como requisitos necesarios: el proceso de integración subregional o regional y el desarrollo de la cooperación multilateral intra e internacional en el ámbito de la seguridad y la defensa, y la participación de los países latinoamericanos en las misiones internacionales de paz. En la evaluación de cada uno de estos aspectos es evidente la concepción de una perspectiva soberanista, por parte de los países de la región, muy marcada. De ahí que, pese a los avances evidentes logrados, este factor sea un importante obstáculo para los procesos de integración y de cooperación multilateral y, en consecuencia, para la proyección de la región como actor regional, en el ámbito de la seguridad y de la defensa. Sin embargo, considerando la importancia de combatir eficazmente el crimen organizado trasnacional, para América Latina sería trascendental convertirse en un actor regional, a través de los elementos señalados, ya que es la manera más efectiva de combatir esta amenaza.

¿EXISTE UNA “COMUNIDAD DE SEGURIDAD SUDAMERICANA”?

Desde la creación del Consejo de Defensa Suramericano de la Unión de Naciones Suramericanas (UNASUR) se ha abierto un debate en relación al proceso de integración regional en materia de seguridad y defensa. Este artículo demuestra cómo los avances registrados gracias a la labor del Consejo de Defensa Suramericano suponen la consolidación de una auténtica comunidad de seguridad sudamericana. El artículo examina la importancia que la cooperación interestatal presenta dentro de la dinámica de integración regional en relación a las cuestiones de la seguridad y defensa. Del mismo modo, el artículo señala las características principales que presentaría dicha comunidad de seguridad sudamericana, así como los retos y hándicaps que debe superar. Para concluir, el artículo demuestra cómo el proceso de integración en este ámbito tan especial sigue adelante a pesar de que estemos hablando de un contexto caracterizado por la austeridad y por un nivel de inseguridad bajo.

The Necessity to Improve the Logistic Processes of the Transport System

The South Caucasus states are engaged in a complex and contradictory process of simultaneous regional integration and disintegration. The main instrument of regional integration could be a network of bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTA) which those countries have signed and adopted. As is well known, trade integration within a free trade area can also lead to trade diversion which may lead to a loss of tariff revenues although this should be less of a problem in the case of a low external tariff towards third countries.

Embedding regional actors in social and historical context: Australia-New Zealand integration and Asian-Pacific regionalism

AbstractThe regionalisation of the world economy is one of the most important developments in global governance in the past two decades. This process has seen ‘inter-regional’ economic agreements emerge between two or more regional groupings. Drawing mainly on the European Union’s external relations, observers accordingly point to the growing importance of regional actors, explaining their agency (or ‘actorness’) with regional attributes such as (supranational) institutional design, size, and member state cohesion. This article challenges this dominant explanation of regional agency. It argues that regional actors are socially, politically, and historically ‘embedded’. Agency reflects the contingency of regional integration processes, the motivations that underpin those processes, and the specific relationships between regions and third parties. This approach explains an important case of inter-regionalism from the Asia-Pacific: CER-ASEAN relations. Since the early 1990s, Australia and New Zealand have used their ‘Closer Economic Relations’ trade agreement for relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. This reflects the ambitions of Australasian officials to shape processes of Asian-Pacific regionalism, and the interests of ASEAN officials in consolidating their own process of transnational market-making. Here, regional agency owed to a transforming world economy and the reconceptualisation of regions within new networks of trade governance.

Euro-Dependence—A Peripheral Look beyond the Monetary Union: A Proposal of Reform of the TARGET2

This paper seeks to present a proposal of reform of the TARGET2 (Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer) system aimed to correct intra-European Union (EU) financial, trade, and productive imbalances. For this purpose, the proposal relies on the application of the Keynes Plan’s principles to a regional integration process. Previously, the origins of the EU imbalances are traced to the shortcomings of the European monetary integration. Finally, the reforms needed to make the TARGET2 a rebalancing system are discussed in depth. JEL Classification: F32, F33, F36

Global–regional interaction to extend access to social protection for migrant workers: Insights from ASEAN and MERCOSUR

AbstractUniversal access to social protection for migrant workers is emerging as a problematic issue in the implementation of free movement regimes at a regional level. This article focuses on the concept of regional governance as a possible mechanism to address the unsolved challenges of social security regimes to extend coverage. To this end, the article looks at current legal developments in two regional projects (ASEAN and MERCOSUR) to identify a creative approach to strengthen the development of national floors of social protection. The interest of using these case studies lies in exploring whether the regional integration process can play a major role in the progressive extension of social protection rights to migrant workers by facilitating the adoption of social security agreements.